12 Day Northern And Southern Laos Road Tour
Itinerary & Key Points
This road tour will take us up and around the Northern part of Laos, visiting Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng & the capital Vientiane, just to name a few places. On route we will visit some of the best attractions in Laos, such as The World Heritage listed sites of Luang Prabang and The Plain of Jars. Expect some great riding as we traverse the roads of Laos on this adventure through the mountains and valleys of the north to the flatter lands of southern Laos.
Start Point
Luang Prabang
Finish Point
Luang Prabang
Distance
2300 km
Level
Experienced
Vehicles
Honda CRF 300/250L
Terrain
Road Tour
Day 1) Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw. 160 Kilometers 5 hrs Riding. First day on the road together, after a briefing and breakfast, we will get on the road and get the tour underway. First stop will be Pak Ou caves, which is a popular tourist spot on the banks of the Nam Ou River. These caves were used for shelter during the war and are home to hundreds of Buddha sculptures. After a short tour of the caves, we will head north on Route 13 towards Nong Khiaw where we will stay overnight on the Banks of The Nam Ou River.
Day 2) Nong Khiaw to Muang Hiam. 170 Kilometers 5 Hrs Riding. A great day’s riding ahead of us today as we head east along Route 1C. The road is a roller coaster with a thousand bends with views to die for as we pass through this area once famed for its Tigers. On arrival at Muang Hiam, we will take the opportunity to take a soak in the hot springs, a great way to ease the aches and pains of a good day’s riding. We will stay overnight in a local guest house.
Day 3) Muang Hiam to Phonsavan. 220 Kilometers 5 Hrs Riding. A full day’s riding today as we rejoin the 1C and make our way south towards Phonsavan. Phonsavan is a world Heritage site, famous for the Plain of Jars, of which there are many sites. The most famous is Site 1 which we will visit on our rest day.
Day 4) Phonsavan Rest day & Sight Seeing. 50 Kilometers 2 Hrs Riding. We can take a late start to our day today and enjoy the sites around Phonsavan. The Plain of Jars Site 1 will be our first stop after breakfast. Spread over many acres, the Jars are still an unknown. Burial urns or rice wine vats? Nobody is really sure. The rest of the afternoon can be spent relaxing.
Day 5) Phonsavan to Ban Nahin. 250 Kilometers 5 Hrs Riding. After a hearty breakfast, we will head south on Route 1D, one of our best roads in Laos, smooth and twisty as we make our way into the karst Mountain areas of Khammoaune province. We will head for Ban Nahin and the Sanamhai resort, nestled on the banks on the Namhi river, a wonderful location in rural Laos.
Day 6) Ban Nahin to Konglor Cave. 80 Kilometers 3 Hrs riding. A shorter day today and a chance to relax a little. We will take the bikes down to Konglor cave. Upon arrival, we will take a boat ride through the cave which is nothing short of spectacular. We will have lunch on the other side before heading back through the cave and returning to Sainmhai Resort. This family run resort is a peaceful place with great hospitality.
Day 7) Ban Nahin to Nakia. 190 Kilometers. 4 Hrs riding. We will keep heading south today and you will see how the countryside changes, more karst mountains and huge valleys. A new road that won’t disappoint takes us through a reservoir. On arrival at Nakhai, we will stay overnight on the lake. It’s a perfect place for a few cold beers surrounded by nature.
Day 8) Rest Day. The Phosy Thalang Nakai Resort is located in a national park. If you just want to hang out and enjoy the scenery you can do so by the shores of the lake. You can go boating or maybe take a short walk through the national park. The aim of the day is for you to rest and recuperate in this beautiful area. Beer and sunbathing are also encouraged.
Day 9) Nakahi to The Rock View Point. 155 Kilometers 4 Hrs Riding. We say goodbye to the Nakai Plateau and head along Route 13 through the mountain ranges en route to The Rock view point, another great ride ahead. The Rock is a brand-new facility located in a limestone forest. There is a great viewing area to sit and enjoy the surroundings, or you can take a zip line trip around the facility. This really is a spectacular place. The accommodation in the pods built on the mountain is something to behold.
Day 10) The Rock Viewpoint to Vientiane. 260 Kilometers 6 Hrs Riding. An early start today as we have a fair distance to travel through the Laotian countryside en route to the capital city of Vientiane. On arrival, we’ll check out a few places for some photos before heading to our hotel for the evening. Expect a great evening of entertainment in this bustling city
Day 11) Vientiane to Vang Vieng .140 Kilometers 4 Hrs Riding. Leaving the capital, we will go north to Vang Vieng on Route 13 before heading off to Thalat. Here we will stop at Nam Ngum lake for lunch. Once finished, we can press onto Vang Vieng and our hotel for the evening. Vang Vieng is a fun place so hopefully we can arrive early to enjoy it.
Day 12) Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang. 180 Kilometers 5 Hrs Riding. Our final day on the road together. We will take Route 4 over the Kasi Pass, some 2000 meters of elevation with fantastic views as well as great roads. On arrival in Luang Prabang, we will take you to Kwang Si waterfall to cool down before heading to our hotel for the evening and a final night of fun in our hometown.
Tour Dates 2024
03. January | 15. January | 29. January | 12. February | 26. February | 11. March | 25. March | 15. April | 29. April | 13. May | 27. May | 10. June | 24. June | 08. July | 22. July | 05. August | 19. August | 02. September | 16. September | 07. October | 21. October | 04. November | 18. November | 02. December | 16. December.
Tour Dates 2025
| 03. January | 15. January | 27. January | 10. February | 24. February | 10. March | 24. March | 14. April | 28. April | 12. May | 26. May | 09. June | 23. June | 07. July | 21. July | 04. August | 18. August | 01. September | 15. September | 06. October | 20. October | 03. November | 17. November | 01. December | 15. December |
DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION
Luang Prabang / International Airport or Train Station
DEPARTURE TIMES
The tour will start at 8.30 am. Please be informed, that you should arrive at least one day before the tour starts in Luang Prabang. We recommend two days before the tour starts to acclimate and avoid jet lag.
RETURN TIMES
The tour will finish at about 4/5 pm back in Luang Prabang, so if you would like to fly back the same day to Vientiane or other destinations, you can catch easily any flight from Luang Prabang after 6 pm.
RIDING GEAR
We recommend bringing your gear to be the most comfortable. But we also offer some helmets, jackets, gloves, and knee guards. Please be informed, that we do not offer boots and trousers due to hygiene reasons.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Guide/ Mechanic (first-aid trained) English Speaking
Bikes: Honda CRF 250L (CRF 300L subject to availability)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner are included. All our stops are in areas where food is available in local cafes and restaurants. There is often a wide choice of national cuisines to choose from.
Drinks: Water is included, alcohol and not included.
Fuel: Fuel for your motorcycle or truck is included for the whole journey.
Accommodation; Rooms are included and based on single room occupancy. Local guest houses & Hotels will be used.
Helmets.
All tolls/bridge/ferry fees.
Entry to sites on tour itineraries.
Support truck and driver (for groups of 3 pax and over).
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
All other riding gear (boot and armour rental available).
Visa: Available on arrival, please check with your embassy for costings.
Flights
Tips and gratuities
Lao Adv Tours: Reserves the rights to change routes and planning due to road problems. Weather conditions can change very quickly. All rights reserved.
